Monday Matinee

Oh I must see this - And Liam Neeson says it so well ...'I love it when a plan gets together'

Some say it is not film material, but I think the concept is. And I just love Liam Neeson's portrayal.
But he also reminds me of Cid Highwind from Final Fantasy VII

Speaking of which, here is a clip of when we first meet Cid. Memories. and don't you think Barrett in FFVII is a reincarnation of BA Baracus. You motherfu..ers, fool.

Music Mondays - How do you solve a problem like Maria

A little quiz

How many songs are there out there with your namesake in the title?

I did a little fun search for my namesake songs and I do know of two recent tunes with my namesake Maria.

Rage against the Machine http://www.last.fm/music/Rage+Against+the+Machine/_/Maria

Blondie - Maria http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfK8uMzkIK4

All Time Low http://www.last.fm/music/All+Time+Low/_/Dear+Maria%2C+Count+Me+In

Santana - Maria Maria http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ml3NUIDpFg

of course my favourite http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpdB6CN7jww&feature=fvw
apparently lovely John Barrowman (hot guy from Torchwood) does a cracking performance for all us Marias ooooh... sing it to me John, I've got goose pimples on top of goose pimples
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy-PsIetn5s
He may have lost out to the title gay icon on this twitter contest, but he is far more talented than the winner.
of course Bach's - Ava Maria
of course Beyonce tried to kill it by doing her awful rendition. Beyonce, don't try to be something you are not, and you are not an opera singer. And beyonce could not sing this tune at all without damaging her voice. Try this instead.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bosouX_d8Y&feature=related

Haha! She knows me too well http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1HwVmY28Pk

As an artist myself I have to come up with an artist's name/band name that has not been taken. For some reason I cannot use my own name 'Maria' as a Japanese band has claimed that name already on Last.fm. Poopy

Sunday Matinee

Cute British actor

Fashion Fridays - Vintage

Vintage or retro has always been part of my look/wardrobe.

In England, dotted along our fair Isle are a little boutique chain where I have been purchasing their fine wares since mid 1990s.
http://www.bluerinseleeds.co.uk/

Since the council moved everyone out of the Corn exchange, Leeds, and made a right ole mess of things, the little boutiques had to find other premises. Pop -Boutique have opened up in a new location nearer Harvey Nichols. Its a larger store with loads more merchandise than they could have in their smaller boutique at the Corn Exchange
http://www.pop-boutique.com/

In my music video 'Softly Gently', you can see one of their fabric bags I purchased in their small stall at Afflecks Palace, Manchester. I also used to wear their flared cord jeans, but they have not been stocking them recently. I am sad to say, they do not do the fabric bags any more. On both websites they have a limited range but you can find more little goodies inside their stores. But I am liking their pinafore dresses. I may go for the pinafore look this Spring and Summer to match my manga hair style. lol. or I may end up looking a right prat!

I do have quite a few vintage clothes in my wardrobe that will no longer fit me. No way will I fit into a size small again. I may have to set up shop on amazon or ebay because they are still in good condition despite being well loved. And will be well missed.

Treat Yourself Thursday - That new Haircut

I don't know why, but I want to go Manga. My hair is growing back after shaving it off and it has that horrible growing back stage where I just cannot style it. But I have been thinking of heading to a salon, which I rarely do as each time it turns into a disappointment. My hair is just not long enough for some of the styles on here http://www.animehairstyle.com/
but they all wanna do the Super Sayan thing. Yeah, I want Goku's hair. lol. Love to roam the streets of Tokyo to see it to believe it. But Manga hair is part of the whole cosplay and anime/manga look all of us want to dabble in.

Watching one of the vids, I think my fringe needs to be a bit longer, and I can keep the back part without needing to go the salon. Done, purchased my Manga putty from Garnier Fructis, and I am Manga out of here. It's a great tom boy look for any emo, punk, manga junkie girlie out there.

For the girlie girl who likes to kick ass, do the Tifa (Final Fantasy VII) or the Rinoa, Yuffie, and the pretty Yuna (FFX and X-2)look. The Japanese girls love these female icons, and maybe what made the Final Fantasy franchise popular with the girls as well as the boys. Gaming in general was considered a male hobby, but due to the manga image in some of the games and other RPG, girls like to get out their playstations and xbox 360s out too.

My favourite has to be the Yuffie hair, even without the head band, it still works.



And all you need is a decent hair cut and your gel. I do know one salon in Leeds do this kind of look, and there may be other salons in a city near you.

tasty tuesdays - Chinese/Japanese

I seem to go through fads, and food is no different. Since losing a portion of my bowel due to cancer, I have lost some of my appetite, but going Chinese or Japanese seems to keep me going through the day. If done properly can be a tasty and healthier option to your average meal. There are plenty of resources online so it is pointless to give you the recipes, but I can show you some of my favourite condiments and ideas that you can purchase from your local store.

Chinese vegetables used in stir fries need to be cut evenly, and same shapes/sizes, so they cook evenly. And use this trick with your meats as well. Pictured is some onions, noodles spring beans gently fried in Oyster sauce.

This is the best Oyster Sauce around that I have tasted so far. Purchased in the Chinese supermarket in Leeds. Great for your salmon and noodles.

Try this website http://chinesefood.about.com/od/sauces/Sauce_and_Seasoning_Recipes.htm
for this and other ideas for Chinese cooking. Plenty of Thai and Szechuan ideas. One suggestion is Beef and broccoli with Oyster Sauce.
And supermarkets are filling their shelves up with Szechuan sauces. The key ingredients is chilli oil, tomatoes and black pepper, so you may as well try and make your own to spice up some white fish or chicken.


Served these vegetables with some breaded fish goujons bought from a local supermarket, using Plum Sauce for dipping.

Chinese cooking should be versatile and does not necessarily stick to a strict recipe format. Other key ingredients for Chinese especially for the more sweeter savoury dishes, is sugar in your sauces, or honey to coat and marinade your meats. Distilled soya beans is a must, but in your local China town or supermarket, they sell Soya pastes and Soya bean sauce. The rest is up to you and your imagination.
As for Japanese, this a little more specific, they have their own mustard tasting sauces and strange looking mushrooms that look as if they've been grown on an distant alien world. Supermarkets in the UK are stocking these delicacies though, and it adds authenticity to your Japanese themed night.

Music Mondays - My Personal Top Ten Albums

Not in any specific order

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon but this song below is from a later album. It is difficult to find one track that I liked online.


Curiosity Killed the Cat - Keep Your Distance
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Keep-Your-Distance-Curiosity-Killed/dp/B00000E5L1/ref=cm_cmu_pg__header

and I love this song. There is a good quality video someone uploaded to youtube.


Remember girls we all wanted those Doc Martins? Curiosity was one of many boy bands with the looks and they played great great music. I was in love with Julian the guitarist, and I even named my teddy bear after him...sigh...memories.

Wet Wet Wet - Popped In Souled Out.

All the tracks are brilliant, and well performed by the lads. What more can I say. Except, wanna see a classic 80s moment from Top of the Pops, my favourite TV show of the 1980s. Sigh, miss Top of the Pops




Madonna ' Ray of Light' but I was torn which Madonna album, as Like A Virgin is a classic Madonna album.
But my fave track from Ray of Light, or one of my faves is this and the video is brilliant. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHydngA5C4E&channel=madonna

I don't care about what other people say about her, she cannot sing etc, but she can sing way better than any of the current crop of lame artists and plus, she performs well live. Always puts on a good show, and the likes of Britney copies everything Madonna did ten years previously.
I also like the look of Madonna in this video. One of her best looks so far.

Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells

http://www.last.fm/music/Mike+Oldfield/Tubular+Bells+II/The+Bell
but keep an eye for another good album of his 'The Songs of Distant Earth'



Jeff Wayne War of the Worlds
with a great narrative by Richard Burton. This has to be one of my favourite of all albums of all time. Why? Just listen. Its also due to my Dad playing it most Sundays along with Pink Floyd, Mike Oldfield, and Genesis. Yes, my Dad rocks. Music wise. He also converted us all to the Star Trekkie world. Go Dad Go. LOL.



TAKE THAT - GREATEST HITS. I cannot believe Mr Blobby knocked Babe off Number One spot.
Sigh, this had to be one of my biggest crushes ever.


TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY - Symphony or Damn
When first released, it was said to be all done by MIDI by the artist himself. This was just as good as his debut album

BJORK - DEBUT. great debut from Bjork


RADIOHEAD - BENDS

http://www.last.fm/music/Radiohead/The+Bends/High+And+Dry



I may post some more of my fave artists/albums in a later blog. But I cannot leave without saying 'Goldfinger'
Shirley Bassey's Greatest Hits
http://www.last.fm/music/Shirley+Bassey/Greatest+Hits